Sindh Govt Introduces New Family Planning Initiatives
by Saeed Iqbal
SHARES
Sindh Govt holds meeting over Family planning (FP) 2030, in commemoration of World Population Day. Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Provincial Minister of Health and Population Welfare, chaired this meeting.
Karachi (02-08-22): Minister for Health & Population Welfare, Sindh, Dr.@AzraPechuho held a meeting with @gatesfoundation representatives to discuss the work being done for MNCH, family planning & reproductive health rights & the support needed for further progress. #SindhHealth pic.twitter.com/5QwS5ImLPM
— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) August 2, 2022
Participants of the meeting discussed the impact of the high population growth rate on social and economic development. They emphasized that population growth is linked with rising disparity & poverty, climate change, and urban migration. All these factors are restricting human development.
Key reforms like functional integration between the Health Department and Population Welfare Department have been made under the FB 2030 group, says Technical Advisor and Focal Person DR. Talib Lashari.
Dr. Yasmin Qazi, Country Advisor Gates Foundation, discussed the historical perspective of family planning in Pakistan. She further added that we need to work collaboratively to address the unfulfilled needs of couples who want to get information about family planning.
Dr. Qazi concluded that governments of all provinces have to ensure a steady supply of contraceptive commodities to effectively control the population growth rate.
Country Director of Jhpiego, Dr. Fauzia Asad said that we need to include the concepts of self-care in family planning. Particularly, it is essential to engage men in the discourse of family planning.
Renuka Swami, a UNFPA representative, showed concern that the world population is reaching eight billion and causing many health and socio-economic problems. She suggested that engaging youth in the process of family planning would help in stopping the overgrowth of the population.
Additionally, The Population Welfare Department of Punjab also has started a family planning program for couples who married recently. The department started this program under the slogan “Balanced Family, Prosperous Pakistan”. This training is started at Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Gujar Khan.
This training aims to provide information about a balanced family and to start a new life with new responsibilities.
